NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE MARKS INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY, CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTLINES FUTURE PLANS
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) joined the global customs community in commemorating International Customs Day on January 27, 2025. The event, celebrated at the NCS Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, provided an opportunity for the Service to evaluate its achievements, reinforce its commitments, and strategize for future demands.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, welcomed guests to the event, emphasizing the significance of International Customs Day. He noted that the occasion provides a vital platform for customs administrations worldwide to reflect on their progress, share best practices, and address emerging challenges.
Adeniyi highlighted the NCS's commitment to efficiency, security, and prosperity, aligning with the World Customs Organization's (WCO) 2025 theme, "Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity." He emphasized the Service's core responsibilities: facilitating legitimate trade, securing national borders, and fostering economic growth.
The NCS has made significant strides in modernizing its processes and procedures, including the successful implementation of the Advanced Ruling System.
This system provides binding decisions on classification and valuation, reducing clearance delays and disputes. The Service has also achieved remarkable success with its Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which has resulted in an average release time of 43 hours for certified companies, representing a 66.9% reduction in cargo clearance time.
Furthermore, the NCS has developed and deployed an indigenous customs clearance platform, 'B'Odogwu', which has processed transactions worth billions in revenue within its pilot phase. This innovation demonstrates the Service's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance trade facilitation and revenue collection.
In terms of security, the NCS focuses on critical risk domains, including Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing, Cultural Heritage Protection, Drug Trafficking, and Environmental Protection.
The Service has strengthened its technological infrastructure through the integration of geo-spatial technology, deployment of sophisticated scanning systems, and enhanced intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities.
Adeniyi noted the Service's exceptional fiscal performance in 2024, collecting ₦6.1 trillion in revenue, exceeding targets by 20.2%, and representing a 90.4% year-over-year increase. The NCS managed imports valued at ₦60.29 trillion and exports of ₦136.65 trillion, providing ₦1.68 trillion in concessions to boost economic growth and industrial development across various sectors.
Looking ahead, the NCS's strategic vision aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's policy direction and global customs best practices, focusing on transformative initiatives to revolutionize trade facilitation and enforcement. The Service plans to deploy a nationwide trade modernization program, implement a comprehensive AEO program, enhance technology-driven risk management, and establish the Nigeria Customs Service University for Trade and Technology.
As the NCS marks International Customs Day, it renews its pledge to excellence in customs administration, united in its mission to forge a more secure and prosperous Nigeria through efficient service delivery. With its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and customer-centric service,
the NCS is poised to play a vital role in driving economic growth and development in Nigeria.
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